Launched in `2006`, the Audi `R8 42` was the brand's first true series-production supercar and shares part of its DNA with the Porsche 911 through its ability to feel dramatic without becoming totally unmanageable day to day. On the used market, the real issue is not the model's reputation but whether maintenance was good enough for an aluminium, mid-engined, high-performance car that was often used in short bursts.
The heart of the market remains the `420 hp 4.2 FSI V8`, first with a manual gearbox and later also with the `R tronic`, before the `5.2 FSI V10` arrived at the end of the period. The first `R8` impresses with its steering, traction and build quality, but it already brings expensive components: clutch, `Magnetic Ride` dampers, large brakes, side cooling hardware and many body parts that are not easy to repair properly. Looks alone are not enough on a car of this level.